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Minnesotans vote 'yes' on transportation amendment

(AP) Minnesota voters locked state government into
spending more money on roads and public transit, approving an
amendment to the state constitution that's expected to funnel an
extra $300 million a year into transportation projects.

As the dust settled on the election early Wednesday, it became
clear that voters had approved the amendment, which will require
that all motor vehicle sales tax proceeds go specifically toward
transportation.

With 86 percent of precincts reporting, 57 percent voted "yes" and 43 percent voted
"no" or did not vote on it at all.

Passing a constitutional amendment is not a simple matter in
Minnesota. It requires a majority of everyone who votes in the
election, and failing to vote on the proposal counts as a "no" vote. And it didn't become clear until the early hours Wednesday
that the proposal had enough support to overcome the voters who
left the amendment box on their ballots blank.

"People do understand that we have not invested properly in our
transportation infrastructure, and this is a necessary first
step," said a leader of the amendment campaign, Rick Krueger,
executive director of the Minnesota Transportation Alliance. "...
It should bode well for the future."

The amendment will be phased in over the next five years until,
by 2011, it directs around $300 million in new money toward
improving roads and public transit.

Minnesotans for Better Roads and Transit, a coalition of more
than 1,000 groups and businesses, had planned to spend about $3.5
million on billboards and other advertising urging Minnesotans to
vote "yes."

But a coalition of rural legislators and mayors said the
amendment was poorly worded and might not direct enough money into
highway projects. The wording said that at least 40 percent of the
money would be used for mass transit, with no more than 60 percent
for roads and bridges. Critics said that vague language left open
the possibility that light rail and bus projects might grab nearly
all the money.

Others, such as the teachers union Education Minnesota, said it
would divert money from schools, health care and other programs.
Almost half of the motor vehicle sales tax dollars now flow into
the state's general fund, where the money can be spent on anything.

Future legislatures may have to consider spending cuts or tax
increases if other revenues don't rise enough to plug the hole in
future budgets.